CHENNAI/MADURAI: The bird flu that has hit Kerala may not have crossed the border, but fears have. A sudden fall in consumption of chicken and the accompanying plunge in prices across the state are signs.

In Chennai, the price of one kilogram of dressed chicken has fallen from Rs 160 to Rs 120 over the last one week, while the cost of a live chicken has dropped to Rs 90 from Rs 110. Some retailers are offering chicken for as low as Rs 90 a kg.